THE WORLD of SPORT

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1927, Page 13

THE WORLD of SPORT

ROWING.

MERCE.R REGATTA.

ifOTES ON THE FORM.

SOMK C'OMIXG EVENTS. Another Mercer regatta has been idded to local rowing history, and last Saturday's gala offered a striking ill tie - tratitv o' the strength of Auckland provincial rowing. The Mercer course has long been a popular one with oarsmen and little wonder that the entries constituted a record. This season's racing jias been full of surprises—winning 'donation* have been shared by all clubs —and previous winners looked to retain their record*. The broad even course offered one of tiie best tests and the racing and rowing were of a high standard. Crews swung on to their work in fine style and in almost every race the spectators were kept in a high tension to discover the winner.

The day's results showed a welldivided programme, and even now with six regattas decided no crew has an unblemished record. Seven crews shared in the donations and Hamilton with four wins, two seconds, and £14, heads the ]i3t. Waitemata follow with two wins and two seconds, £0; Tauranga, two wins. £4: St. George's, one win, three seconds. £8: North Shore, one win, one second. £7: Auckland, one win. one second. £7: and West End. one second. £1.

k woulil be difficult to decide the beit ra.e. Club fancy would help some' to decide, but nothing better can be wished for than the light and heavy maidens, junior fours, handicap singles and the youths' fours. Perhaps fcr a performance that of St. George's in defeating the crack Hamilton crew in the youths' fours, was the best on the day.! The riversiders were looked upon, wp;h their strong crew, as morals, btn St. George's did the trick that proves so beneficial to the sport.

If any doubts existed about the strength of North Shore's junior four they should now be dispelled, for the marine suburb's crew won a great race in fine style. For the greater portion of the course St. George's held the lead— at one time were four lengths out —but the distance told its tale, and Shore coming at the right time like a shot from a gun, gained the honours. Auckland, as predicted last week, re- I trieved lost laurels in the light maidens, but their meeting with Nortfi Shore at Eangiriri stiould prove interesting. However, Shore's bow must remember his •eyes should be in the boat and not watching other crews ai."d the spectators. Hamilton gained the heavy maidens that carried the Dewar Shield. A big, strong crew that made a good showing, but Auckland can reckon that much was lost through erratic steering, in the final stages in particular. The senior fours proved a wash-out as Waitemata simply rowed over the course. Hamilton failed to appear, and it was felt that with men available they could have, as in other races, put in substitutes. The single sculls handicap was anotherdisappointment as St. Clair failed""to measure blades with Stevenson. The. meeting of this pair always..- atousgs interest, and it -last chance of seeing them before the New Zealand championships. After the waj- Stevenson raced at Hamilton, when St. Clair en-' joyed such a comfortable win, it seemed strange, that St. Clair did not strip for the event. Waters, of Hamilton, who turned up the winner, was an unknown quantity and received a Irindly handicap. Outside of that the handicappers carried out a difficult task well.

The rowing programme was carried out by the officials of the Auckland Rowing Association and they got through" a heavy task in fine style., - Inter-Club Events. Xext Saturday afternoon at the North Shore Rowing Club's "At Home, 7 ' two very important inter-club" trophies, the Mclhvraith Cup and the Maurice Card • Cup will be decided. Both events ahvajrs ~ arouse a lot of interest,'arid only good, conditions for racing are required»t&.. ensure success. It was hoped that seme! of the country crews would try conclusions this season, but it now appears as if the contest will be left to the five local crews. ■* The Mclhrraith Cup is for non-class fours and has drawn a big entry, and at present the winners are well concealed. The Maurice Card Cup has been allotted the double scullers and being a handicap event, makes, from the big entries, a difficult proposition to forecast the winners. The handicaps, .as declared by the Auckland Rowing duty officials are:— Practice clinker boats, 60s; racing clinker boats, 40s; and Best and Best boats, scratch. The entries and boats are:— Auckland (G. Cleal, str, J. McComish, how), racing clinker; North Shore (D. Da vies str* G. Dean, A. Felton) racing :linker; West End (A. C. Norden str, J. W. Haylock) racing clinker; Waitemata (\V. A. Stevenson str, D.. Smith) Best and Best; Waitemata (J. A. Stewart str, J. Stevenson) clinker racer; Waitemata (C. G. Fearon str, T. R. Impey) clinker racer; St. George's (D. H. Hume str, K. D. Page) racing clinker; St. George's (W. Woolhouse str, L. H. Schrafft) clinker practice; St. George's (V. Hargreaves str, D. T. Hargreaves) clinker practice. There is every likelihood of the new eight-oar boats being seen at the North Shore Club's "At Home'' on Saturday, and in all probability a race will be arranged. Coming Regattas. The remaining provincial regattas are Rangiriri and Ngaruawaliia. At Rangiriri on March 5, two of the Auckland Association's championships, the lightweight maidens, which carries the Mrs. John Clark Shield, and the youth's fours the Nash Cup will be decided. For the single sculls the much prized Marshall Cup claims attention. Two other important races are the junior fours and open maiden fours. Ngaruavvahia will be the meeting place on March 17, when the usual programme )i class racing will be decided. Southern Regattas. Three regattas, Wanganui, March 5, Wellington, March 12, and the New Zealand championships, at Picton on March 19, are attracting a lot of attention. Interest is added as the Wendouree Club's crew, of Melbourne, will compete. The Wanganui programme has already appeared. The events at Wellington are: — Single sculls, one mile and a-haif (Pearce Challenge Cup), £4, £2; maiden fours, one mile, £9, £3; junior pairs, one mile, £6, £2; youths fours one mile, £9, £3; maiden pairs,

one mile, £5, £2; senior fours, two miles, £14, £5; light maiden fours, one mile, £9, £3; maiden double sculls, one mile. '> junior fours, one mile and ahalf, £10, £3; senior pairs, one mile and a-half, £6, £2; junior single sculls (BridSon C'up), one mile, £3, £1. The Ne».* Zealand Championship Regatta at Picton Harbour has £173 allotted in donations. The draft programme is:—Championship fours, Best and Best boats, two miles, £40, £10: maiden fours (open), clinkers, one mile, £10, £2; junior pairs (clinkers), one mile, £5, £2; championship single sculls. Best and Best boats, one mile and alialf, £10, £2; lightweight maiden fours, (clinkers), one mile, £10, £2; championship pairs, Best and Best boats, one mile and a-half, £12, £3; junior fours, Best and Best boats, one mile and a-half, £12, £3; youths' fours (clinkers), one mile, £10, £2; championship double sculls. Best and Best boats, one mile and a-half, £12, £3; maiden pairs (clinkers), one mile. £.1, £2; Marlborough Plate (Best and Best boats, all crews, except winners championship fours), one mile and a-half, £ir>, £:].